Is anyone here a victim of "vanity sizing"?

[zanana1]

Recently, my ultra-slim sister-in-law decided to clean out her closet and gave me a bag of clothes to try on. (Some of the clothing still had the tags on). I saw a jacket I instantly fell in love with. I tried it on and...VOILA"! it was a perfect fit. When I was getting it ready to go to the dry cleaner's, I noticed the size tag. It was a size 1. I'M A SIZE 12, PEOPLE!

Here's another story. My sister recently went clothes shopping (in too much of a hurry to try anything on). She's a size 4, by the way, and bought a pair of pants. She noticed they were way too big for her. When she looked at the size tag, she was surprised to see it was a size 14!

WTH? What is going on, people? I used to buy clothes by pulling them off the rack and throwing them in the carriage. They always fit me. Has anyone else noticed this? Are the manufacturers trying to flatter (or insult) women into buying more clothes? I'm dying to hear more stories like these.

[Kali]

1. guessing

the size 1 was an L?

and the 14 may have jsut been in the wrong place if they were really too big...

[zanana1]

10. It was a size "1" on two size tags.

Not that I mind being labeled a size 1 but really, I live in the real world.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Anymore, I have to try every single thing on. I also could just

grab and go and knew it would fit. However, I do remember having a coworker who only shopped at Saks, and when she gave me some clothes to see if they fit me, they were marked as at least three sizes smaller than I would ever fit into but they fit. This was years ago. So...rich people have always worn those nice little sizes. Today, I have no idea what size to even look at, no matter what the store. Which is why I cannot comprehend buying clothes online.

[Denninmi]

3. Well, I'm a guy, but the same thing happens with men's clothing.

I've bought size 36 pants that are wider in the waist band than the same brand/style/color in a size 38, and other brands where a size 40 is smaller than the a different brand's size 36. I don't know if its intentional or just sloppy quality control. I just shoot for the general size neighborhood and then try something on and go from there either up or down as needed, because there is absolutely no consistency between manufacturers.

[quakerboy]

4. Yup

Sorta. I just did my pants shopping for the next couple years, barring catastrophe. Online, 5 pairs, all the same waist size. 1 fits great. one is a tinsy bit large. One is a little snug. One is dangerously snug. And one I have not yet tried.

[Lance_Boyle]

13. I've encountered that, too.

Pretty sure some of those manufacturers are using metric inches, or the "new math." ;-)

[haele]

5. That's how some manufacturers size their "women's" sizes -

Size 1 is usually a size 14/16, 2 is an 18/20, 3 is a 22/24, and 4 is a 26.
Some manufacturers size Juniors/Petites size .5 (normally a 2), 1 (halfway between size 2/4), 2 (halfway between size 4/6), a normal size 6, then they seem to continue with the normal 8/9, 10/11, 12/13.
Sizing used to be set to a fairly standard bust/waist/hip with only a half-inch or so difference depending on if it was a European cut pattern (those are usually bustier and in metric measurements), American cut (thicker waist and hips and measured in inches) or an Asian cut pattern (metric cut, less hip and bust).

I think the vanity sizing is more in the Juniors than the women - we women know they're just not adding the "X" after those suddenly low numbers... :(

Haele

[elleng]

6. Thought so.

I shop VERY rarely, but have heard, from daughters and others, about these itsy-bitsy sounding sizes. Had to shop recently, for an occasion. Am still in 10/12, and as that would have been case years ago, they may be flattering me. Daughter 6/8, may be 'new' 6/8.

[mcctatas]

7. the opposite experience with wedding dress shopping

I normally wear a 10 in dresses but just in case brides to be aren't frantic enough they size all of them small I had to order a size friggin 16, almost burst into tears. At least my size 4 friend had to get a size 8 bridesmaid dress, but still!:cry:

[laundry_queen]

15. Wedding dresses are the WORST. Agreed. nt

[Inchworm]

8. I've been wearin my ex's BF's clothes for years

I like t-shirts and jeans

:P

[zanana1]

9. Maybe that's just the ticket.

Why drive myself to distraction shopping when I get can by wearing sweats and T-shirts? Let's start a club.

[WinkyDink]

11. Check the brand. Chico's "Size 1" = Regular 8-10. :-)

[zanana1]

12. It IS from Chico's! nt

[Odin2005]

14. I work at a thrift store, so I see this BS all the time.

I found several size 2s that were obviously 14s or there-abouts. WTF?

[laundry_queen]

16. plus size stuff often uses 1, 2 and 3 on their clothes

The way it usually works is 14-16 is a 1, 18-20 is a 2 and 22-24 is a 3. Usually that's just for shirts though. Pants are almost always 14, 16, 18 etc.

[zanana1]

18. I'm a size 10-12 Misses

I'm not a plus size and one of the items came from someone I know who was "cleaning out her closet". She is not a plus size woman either. I think the wealthy are generally just a more pampered segment of society. The size "1"'s were from Chico's, an upscale clothing store. I have no idea how the actual size 1 women find clothes in their size in stores like this. Maybe they go into the "minus" category?

[KT2000]

17. You know you've really

made it when you can wear a size ZERO!!
What does that say about marketing.

[Maine-ah]

19. yep.

I am actually a size 2. It's hard to find a true size 2 because of the vanity sizing. I was looking at jeans the other day...saw a pair of 2's, held them up at the waist and I swear they were more like an 8/10, and it's different for different brands too.

[mulsh]

20. I'm a man and I now try on most items of clothing I buy.

Mostly pants seem to be randomly sized. If I buy shirts from one manufacturer they're consistently sized the same. But in recent years I've only found one company who does this.
I first noticed this happening with shoes. I wear between a size 10d and 11 1/2ee- wide depending on the manufacturer.

My wife has it worse since womens clothes, even the expensive brands, are poorly made and inconsistently sized.

I don't think it's "vanity sizing" in most cases I think its lousy QA on the manufacturers part.

I grew up working in my grandparents women and children's clothing stores and used to immersed in clothing arcana.

[nolabear]

21. Even two of the same item often are different. Try them on.

Jeans are notoriously weird in their variability.

I'm a "plus" size 1 and nothing takes shape into account either. Makes catalogue shopping a pain in the round, luscious behind, though.